Events
Cape May County has tons of special events, below are just some of them. Dates & times should be confirmed prior to your visit. Phone numbers are area code (609) unless noted. A complete updated schedule is on our website at www.capemaycountychamber.com.
January
First Day At the Beach: 1st: Ocean City’s first dip in the ocean for the New Year. 2 p.m. at the Music Pier, Boardwalk & Moorlyn Terrace. 609-525-9300 or www.ocnj.us
February
16th Annual Polar Bear Weekend: 12-14: For more information, please call 609-263-3756 or www.lacosta-seaisle.com.
March
St. Patricks Day Celebration and Parade: 13: Parade on Atlantic Avenue from 9th to 2nd Avenues. North Wildwood. Noon. Free. 609-522-7722 or visit www.northwildwood.com
Sherlock Holmes Weekend: 19-21: A weekend of mystery and intrigue awaits amateur sleuths. 609-884-5404 or visit www.capemaymac.org
Ocean Drive Marathon: 28th: On Ocean Drive from Cape May to Sea Isle City. 9 a.m. Free to spectators. 609-523-0880 or visit www.odmarathon.org
April
Doo Dah Parade: 16-18th: Tax-free shopping all weekend long at participating Downtown Stores. For more information call 609-398-4662. On April 17, say goodbye to the tax season with this comedy parade complete with over 500 basset hounds. Noon on Asbury Ave. from 6th St.-12th St. and then up to the Boardwalk ending at the Music Pier. 609-525-9300 or www.ocnj.us
Sensational 60s Weekend: 23-25th: Dance party at the Wildwoods Convention Center. Street Fair & Concert. 609-729-4000 or visit www.fabfifties.com
Cape May Historic House Tours: garden trolley tours & concerts. 609-884-5404 or visit www.capemaymac.org
May
Spring Block Party: 1st: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. from 5th – 14th Sts. on Asbury Ave. Over 350 crafters, food, vendors, music and more. 609-525-9300 or www.ocnj.us
World Series of Birding: 15th: New Jersey Audubon proudly hosts the annual World Series of Birding – North America’s premier conservation event. This event has changed the birding landscape and raised over $8,000,000 for bird conservation. Every species found – every dollar raised preserves and protects critical bird habitat. 609-884-2736.
Pirate’s Day with Captain Kidd : 22nd: Pirate costume parade begins on 26th and the Boardwalk at 11am. Treasure hunt to follow at 15th and the beach. Kids 12 and under. Prize includes $1,000 savings bond, bikes and more. 609-522-2955 or www.northwildwood.com
25th Annual Wildwoods International Kite Festival: 28 –31st: On the Beach at Rio Grande Avenue, Wildwood and inside the Wildwoods Convention Center. Event begins on Fri. 9 p.m. with the Illuminated night kite fly. Activities are 9am-5pm Sat. & Sun. Free to spectators. 609-729-9000 or www.wildwoodsnj.com
June
Miss New Jersey: 16-19th: Ocean City. Boardwalk Parade (16th), preliminary competitions, and the finals at the Music Pier, Moorlyn Terrace & Boardwalk. 609-525-9300 or www.ocnj.us
Wildwoods Restaurant Week: Wine and dine in some of Wildwoods finest restaurants. All participating restaurants will offer a complete four course meal, including appetizer, salad, entrée and dessert for one low price, plus tax and gratuity. 609-522-2444 or www.wildwoodsnj.com
87th Annual National Marbles Tournament: 21-25th: Ringer Stadium, Wildwood Avenue and the beach, Wildwood. The official national competition in the sport of marbles for boys and girls ages 8-14 that have qualified by winning local tournaments throughout the U.S. 8am-1pm Daily. Free to spectators. 609-729-9000 or www.nationalmarblestournament.org
North Wildwood Original Italian – American Festival: 5-27th: Annual celebration of Italian-American heritage, food and music held in North Wildwood on Olde New Jersey Avenue. Fri: 4pm-11pm, Sat: Noon-11pm, Sun: noon-6pm. 609-522-6464 or www.northwildwood.com
Restaurant Week in Ocean City:June 21-27: 525-9300 or visit www.ocnj.us
July
Independence Day Celebrations: July 4th: Fireworks, parades and special events held throughout the Jersey Cape. 609-465-7181 or www.capemaycountychamber.com
New Jersey State Barbeque Championship & Anglesea Blues Festival: 9-11th: 2nd and Olde New Jersey Avenues, North Wildwood. Mouth-watering barbeque, live blues music and free family fun. Fri: 5 p.m. – 11 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Free to spectators. 609-523-6565 or www.njbbq.com
9th Annual Mid-Atlantic Tuna Tournament: July 14-17: The main event for tuna fishermen with over a quarter of a million dollars in prize money awarded during the last tournament. 609-884-2400 or www.sjmarina.com
August
Weird Week: 16-20th: Ocean City. Wacky, but not tacky, these events are fun for the entire family. 11 a.m. each day at the Music Pier, Moorlyn Terrace & Boardwalk. 609-525-9300or www.ocnj.us
19th Annual Mid-Atlantic Tournament, $500,000: The richest marlin and tuna tournament in the world. With $1,811,950 in prize money in 2008, this event sets the world standard for Sport Fishing tournaments. 609-884-2400 or www.sjmarina.com
September
Civil War Reenactment: 11-12th: A military encampment at Historic Cold Spring Village. 609-898-2300 or www.hcsv.org
New Jersey State Firemen’s Convention and Parade: 17-18th: The Wildwoods Convention Center. Parade on New Jersey Avenue from Crocus Road, Wildwood Crest, north to 9th Ave, North Wildwood. Sat 1pm. Free. 800-852-0137 or www.njsfa.com
Wings ‘N Water Festival: September 17-19th: The Wetlands Institute hosts this award winning event, one of the premiere wildlife celebrations in the U.S. 368-1211 or www.wetlandsinstitute.org
Irish Fall Festival: 23-26th: The largest Irish Festival on the East Coast. Olde New Jersey Avenue, North Wildwood. Four-day event celebrates Irish heritage with dancing, music, vendors and crafts. Sun: 1 p.m. 8am-11pm Daily. Bus Service throughout event days. Other festival activities include a golf tournament, amateur boxing matches, Irish dance lessons, Ceili, 5k Run and 1 mile walk, pipe exhibition, Irish music concert, Catholic Mass and concludes with a parade on Surf Ave. from 26th to Spruce and Olde New Jersey Avenues, North Wildwood 1-800-IRISH-91, 609-729-0075 or www.cmcaoh.com.
October
Wildwood Seafood and Music Festival: 9th(tentative): An outdoor event from 11am to – 8pm. on Atlantic Avenue between Wildwood and Schellenger Avenues. A FREE street fair with food vendors, crafts, a pie eating contest, Kids Korner, a clam chowder contest and musical entertainment. For more info call 729-4000. 38th Annual Victorian Week: 8-14th (tentative): A week long celebration of Victorian lifestyle, architecture and society. For more info call 609-729-4000 or www.wildwoodsnj.com
Avalon Chamber of Commerce Seafood Festival: 9-10th: Delectable delights, activites & Chowder contest (Sun.). 609-967-3936 or www.avalonbeach.com
Fabulous 50s Weekend: 15-17th: Dance party, street fair, concerts, and packages available. 609-729-4000 or www.fabfifties.com
November
Sherlock Holmes Weekend: 5-7th: A weekend of mystery and intrigue await amateur sleuths. 609-884-5404 or www.capemaymac.org
Christmas in Stone Harbor: 27-30th: Featuring merchant hospitality, parade and entertainment. 609-368-5102. Holiday Hoopla 368-1211.
December
Christmas in Cape May: All month: Victorian decorations and merchant hospitality. Holly Trolley Rides and candlelight tours held throughout the month 609-884-5404 or www.capemaymac.org
First Night New Years Eve Celebration: 31st: Ocean City’s complete schedule of New Year’s fun leading up to fireworks at midnight. 609-525-9300 or www.ocnj.us